Post by warriorpride on Mar 19, 2006 11:44:19 GMT -6
Expert Guidance from Bob Mattingly, Guidance Counselor in District 204
If you have kids that have attended Waubonsie Valley H.S. or Neuqua Valley H.S., the chances are good that you know Bob Mattingly. Bob was the Director of Guidance at WVHS from 1980 - 1997 and has had the same role at NVHS from 1997 to present. In this role, Bob provides students direction on scheduling classes and participating in extracurricular activities that will set them up for success beyond high school.
Bob has certainly seen the differences in quality of education that result from larger enrollments. He says, "In 1996 (the year before NVHS opened), we were just trying to keep the lid on WVHS educationally. The hallways were overcrowded and dangerous, lockers were shared, we had class sizes of 35 students and above in many classes, and some classes were literally taught in the theatre dressing room."
Bob also discusses the year before the Freshman Center was opened at NVHS, "We had 3250 students in the Main Campus building. Classes were being held in the auditorium, lobby, and the theatre practice area. Class sizes were doubled up to 60 students in the Forum rooms. Freshmen were sharing lockers, which are small already. During passing periods, we had dangerous situations due to overcrowding."
Bob highlights the importance of extracurricular activities on a student's experience, "If I were a parent in this district, I would rather have my children attending WVHS or the new high school with 3,000 student enrollments rather than NVHS with 4,200 just because of better opportunities for participating in extracurricular activities. Even though NVHS has the Freshman Campus to help with the overcrowding issue, the climate of a school is directly impacted by the percentage of students who participate in extracurricular activities. Students' views of their school and their exposure to adult role models are significantly influenced by their participation in extracurricular activities."
"The bottom line is we can stuff students into two high schools and the Frontier Campus. However, the quality of education and the opportunities for extracurricular activities suffer greatly. In addition, the daily routine will be dangerous again due to the overcrowding and the sharing of lockers. Class sizes will swell and because we will need to schedule more classes during lunch periods, the balance of students in classes will not be good. With the split shifts, students no longer will be able to take seven courses during the day which will eliminate many valuable elective courses that not only motivate students, but also help them get into their college of choice or prepare them for work after high school." Bob asks the following questions of those voting on the referendum,
'Is this the type of education District 204 parents want for their children?"
"Will the values of homes in our district continue to grow?"
"Who wants to move their family into a school district with overcrowded middle and high schools with fewer opportunities for students?"
In addition to seeing what has happened in the past as a result of overcrowding, Bob discusses what is likely to happen if the referendum is not passed to build a third high school and convert the Waubonsie Valley Gold Campus into a seventh middle school. "I know many teachers from both high schools who will seek to leave if the referendum fails. If I were not retiring this year, I certainly would have to look elsewhere for a better situation."
Bob has graciously provided his phone number to anyone who wishes to speak with him to further understand his experience on overcrowding and the impact on quality of education, opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, and the importance of a quality work environment in retaining our teachers and administrators.
Bob Mattingly
Director of Guidance
Neuqua Valley High School
428-6020
If you have kids that have attended Waubonsie Valley H.S. or Neuqua Valley H.S., the chances are good that you know Bob Mattingly. Bob was the Director of Guidance at WVHS from 1980 - 1997 and has had the same role at NVHS from 1997 to present. In this role, Bob provides students direction on scheduling classes and participating in extracurricular activities that will set them up for success beyond high school.
Bob has certainly seen the differences in quality of education that result from larger enrollments. He says, "In 1996 (the year before NVHS opened), we were just trying to keep the lid on WVHS educationally. The hallways were overcrowded and dangerous, lockers were shared, we had class sizes of 35 students and above in many classes, and some classes were literally taught in the theatre dressing room."
Bob also discusses the year before the Freshman Center was opened at NVHS, "We had 3250 students in the Main Campus building. Classes were being held in the auditorium, lobby, and the theatre practice area. Class sizes were doubled up to 60 students in the Forum rooms. Freshmen were sharing lockers, which are small already. During passing periods, we had dangerous situations due to overcrowding."
Bob highlights the importance of extracurricular activities on a student's experience, "If I were a parent in this district, I would rather have my children attending WVHS or the new high school with 3,000 student enrollments rather than NVHS with 4,200 just because of better opportunities for participating in extracurricular activities. Even though NVHS has the Freshman Campus to help with the overcrowding issue, the climate of a school is directly impacted by the percentage of students who participate in extracurricular activities. Students' views of their school and their exposure to adult role models are significantly influenced by their participation in extracurricular activities."
"The bottom line is we can stuff students into two high schools and the Frontier Campus. However, the quality of education and the opportunities for extracurricular activities suffer greatly. In addition, the daily routine will be dangerous again due to the overcrowding and the sharing of lockers. Class sizes will swell and because we will need to schedule more classes during lunch periods, the balance of students in classes will not be good. With the split shifts, students no longer will be able to take seven courses during the day which will eliminate many valuable elective courses that not only motivate students, but also help them get into their college of choice or prepare them for work after high school." Bob asks the following questions of those voting on the referendum,
'Is this the type of education District 204 parents want for their children?"
"Will the values of homes in our district continue to grow?"
"Who wants to move their family into a school district with overcrowded middle and high schools with fewer opportunities for students?"
In addition to seeing what has happened in the past as a result of overcrowding, Bob discusses what is likely to happen if the referendum is not passed to build a third high school and convert the Waubonsie Valley Gold Campus into a seventh middle school. "I know many teachers from both high schools who will seek to leave if the referendum fails. If I were not retiring this year, I certainly would have to look elsewhere for a better situation."
Bob has graciously provided his phone number to anyone who wishes to speak with him to further understand his experience on overcrowding and the impact on quality of education, opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, and the importance of a quality work environment in retaining our teachers and administrators.
Bob Mattingly
Director of Guidance
Neuqua Valley High School
428-6020